Sweat-band for hats.



No. 707,784. Patented Aug. 26, I902.

c. L. .mnusuu. SWEAT BAND FOR HATS.

(Appl at until dAp 29 1899) (No Model.)

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Aanll/a/ Mm ZWW/ UNTTED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES LEVI JOHNSON, OF WOODBURN, OREGON.

SWEAT-BAND FOR HATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,784, dated August 26, 1902.

Application filed April 29, 1899. Serial lilo. 715,048. (No model.)

T 61/ whom it ntay concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES LEVI J OHN- SON, of Woodburn, Marion county, State of Oregon, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Hygienic Sweat-Bands, of which'the following is a specification.

My invention relates to sweat-bands for hats and caps; and my object is to obtain as a newarticle of manufacture asweat-band made of a non-absorbent material and so attached to the brim of the hat as to afford ample ventilation for the head.

The comforts and healthful benefits of a ventilated hat have long ago become well known; but the material from which the sweat-band was made has not heretofore had the attention which it requires. If constructed of absorbent material, it soon becomes impregnated with the perspiration and excrement of the scalp, giving to the sweat-band an unclean ofiensive appearance and rendering the hat unfit for use from a hygienic point of view until the old soiled sweat-band has been removed and replaced by a clean one.

My object is therefore in its first conception to construct the sweat-band of a nonabsorbent washable material, and, further, that the material used should be a flexible and elastic structure strong and light of weight. Such properties I find contained in the manufacture commercially known as celluloid, and this material is that adopted by me for carrying my invention into effect.

The structure of my sweat-band from a mechanical point of view is illustrated in the drawings above referred to.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective elevation of a hat-crown provided with my improved sweat-band. Fig. 2 is a perspective elevation of the sweat-band removed from the hat, buthaving attached the separating-strips a, whereby ventilating-spaces b are provided between the sweatband and the brim of the hat. Fig. 3 shows a stifiening-band, which in the case of soft hats or caps encompasses the sweat-band to give suflicient stiffness. Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate the construction of two diiferent styles of separating-strips a; and Fig. 6 is a partial perspective elevation and section drawn on a somewhat exaggerated scale to give clearness of a sweat-band, a separating-strip, and a stiffening-band as used for soft hats, as above mentioned.

The letters designate the parts referred to in the description of my invention.

As already stated, the material used by me is preferably celluloid. Celluloid merely suggested itself because it is a well-known commodity and possesses all the propertiesnamely, being non-absorbent, non-stretchable, and yet elastic-required of the material usable by me for the making of hat-bands in the practice of my invention, a hat-band of this construction keeping in good condition and allowing the hat to be worn with comfort throughout its use. The sweat-band c is a long strip of this material cut straight or slightly curved to follow the contour of the brim of the hat.

The figures in the drawings showing either part of my invention represent the same in the same inverted position as is seen in the hat in Fig. 1.

The central part of the sweat-band is provided with a series of perforations d for ventilation. These perforations should be much more numerous than represented and may be crowded together to leave a sufficient margin on the edges. The brim of the sweatband must be rounded or finished, so as not to scratch or cut the head. For this purpose the sweat-band strip could be provided with a slightlythickened rounded edge. For higher-priced hats the sweat-band strips could be specially molded, so as to have a flaring brim, as shown by e, Fig. 6.

The sweat-band is fastened to the separating-strips a, and the latter are fastened to the inside of the hat near the brim.- About four to eight separating-strips are sufficient, because the inherent elasticity of the celluloid sweat-band enables it to regain and retain its original position and state and to keep the ventilating-spaces I) open with this number of separating-strips. These separating-strips may be made square or flat, as shown in Fig. 4, and tubular form, as shown in Fig. 5. The first-mentioned kind are more convenient for use when but a narrow air-space is wanted. This kind may be made of cork, felt, leather, or other like suitable material. The absorbent condition of this material for such use is of no moment, as the separating-strips do not come in contact with the skin. When larger ventilating-spaces b are desired, tubular separating-strips (shown in Fig. 5) may be used. These strips are to be made of celluloid and must have perforations f to admit fastening means.

The means used for fastening the sweatband to the hat and the component parts of the former together would be needle and thread; but staples and rivets would also answer, if neatly inserted and made of some non-corrosive material.

When attaching my improved sweat-band to a soft hat or cap, the air-spaces I) would not remain open unless the brim of the hat were reinforced and sustained by some suitable means. For this purpose I make use of a stiifening-band g, also shown in Fig. 3, made of a strip of celluloid or other like suitable material. This stiffening-band gshould be wider than the sweat-band, and it may be made of lighter weight material than the sweat-band. The stiffening-band is fastened inside of the hat, and the sweat-band is fastened inside of the stifiening-band, the two bands being separated by the strips a, as already described.

The celluloid used for the sweat-band had better have some tint, like tan or other suitable color.

The benefits of my invention are seen at a glance, some of the most important of which are that it is adapted to thorough ventilation, the hat will comfortably set on the head by the band, and the sweat-band may be kept clean as long as the hat may be used. The occasional application of a wet sponge dipped into an antiseptic solution, if thought advisable, is all the attention required. It Will also be found that a sweat-baud such as described will adapt itself to the shape of the head as readily as the ordinary leather band.

What I claim is 1. As an article of manufacture, ahat comprising a body portion, a stiffening-strip of non-absorbent material arranged within and in contact with the body portion, a sweatband of perforated, resilient, non-absorbent, non-elastic material Within the first strip and separated therefrom by tubular separatingstrips, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a hat, of a strip of non-absorbent material secured to the inner portion thereof at the zone usually occupied by the sWeat-band, a sweat-baud formed of a strip of resilient, non-absorbent and nonelastic material, and a plurality of tubular perforated separating-strips secured to the said strip and to the sweat-band, the said strip constituting a stiffening-band, substantially as described.

' CHARLES LEVI JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

CHARLES WALLACE LIVEsAY, HIRAM OVERTON. 

